“We Gave It All and Had Nothing Left” – Van Aert and Jorgenson Reflect on Brutal Tour of Flanders Defeat to Unstoppable Pogačar
In the unforgiving trenches of the Tour of Flanders, sometimes heart and grit just aren’t enough. Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson poured everything they had into Sunday’s classic but it still wasn’t close to matching the sheer brilliance of Tadej Pogačar, who soared ahead in a performance for the ages.
“Completely empty, we weren’t strong enough,” Van Aert admitted after the finish, exhaustion etched into every word. “There are no regrets we raced hard, but he was simply on another level today.”
The Belgian favorite, backed by fervent home support and a powerhouse Visma-Lease a Bike team, had high hopes of conquering De Ronde. So did Jorgenson, the American breakthrough star who’s been a force all spring. But as the race entered its decisive phase, it was clear: Pogačar wasn’t just attacking he was transcending.
“We tried to match him, but it was like chasing a ghost,” Jorgenson said. “There’s nothing we could’ve done differently. It wasn’t about tactics it was about raw power.”
Pogačar’s solo surge up the legendary Oude Kwaremont ripped the race apart. Van Aert and Jorgenson tried to respond, but the Slovenian’s intensity turned the cobbled climb into his personal showcase. By the final kilometers, both were shells of themselves, dangling in the chase while the yellow-clad phenom danced away.
Despite missing the podium entirely, neither rider sulked. There was no bitterness, no excuses, only respect.
“You always hope for a better result,” Van Aert said, “but when someone like Tadej rides like that, you just applaud.”
For cycling fans, it was a reminder of how thrilling and humbling this sport can be. For Van Aert and Jorgenson, it was a brutal but noble loss. And for Pogačar, it was another emphatic stamp on a career that seems to rewrite greatness with every pedal stroke.
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